Top for vehicles and the like.



M.- BUCH. TOP FOR VEHICLES AND THE UKE. APPLICATION mzo ocT.22, my.

Patented Jan. 7,1919.

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D sn'rns PANT or MAX BUCH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNbE T O HENRY E. EDWARDS, OF JACKSON,

' MICHIGAN.

TOP FOB. VEHICLES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '1, 1919.

Application filed October 22, 1917. cerium. 197,937.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Max Boon, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and resident of Detroit, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops for Vehicles and the like, of which the followinglis a specification.

. y invention relates to improvements in tops for motor vehicles and the like and aims to provide an extremely simple and economical top, which shallbe selfsupporting during its folding and projectin movements, thus enabling it to be operate easily by a, single individual, and the folds of the covering material to be properly arranged.

The invention also aims to provide a construction in whichj'the liability of damage to the covering material in the closed position of the top will be reduced to a mini:

mum.

With theseand other objects in view, the invention includes the novel features of construction and arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, my said invention, being defined by the appended claims.

' An embodiment of my invention is illus trated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 shows the top as applied to a motor vehicle, theparts being shown inextended position in full lines and in partially folded position in dotted linw.

Fig. 2 is a view of a modification.

In this drawing, the top being shown in side elevation, only the standard, bow arms, etc., on one side appear, but it willbe understood that they are duplicated on the Y other side, one side only bein shown for convenience. Similarly in the ollowing description and claims when reference is made to a how am or member it refers to one side only and is to be considered as covering by implication the duplicate parts on' the other side.

In this drawing and referringfirst to Fig. 1 the numeral" 1 designates the body of the vehicle for which the top is adapted and which is intended to be representative of any type of vehicle or motor boat requiring such a protective covering. The top covering material is indicated at 2, supported by the'folding frame, which comprises the following, parts.

3 designates a main standard adapted to have its lower end pivotally connected with the body of the conveyance, as indicated at' 3, and 4 designates the usual pivoted rear bow arm. 1

The main standard, in the unfolded position of the top, isarranged to incline forwardly at approximately the angle shown.

The. outri ger. bow arm is shown at 5 and islsu porte from the standard by a link or mem en 6, which ispivotally connected to the outrigger bow arm by preferably a lock joint 5?, and to the standard 3' by a pivot 6.

A cover supporting. bow arm 7 is pivotallyconnected to the standard 3 at 7, and the link or member 6 has a part 6 projected rearwardly of its pivot 6 and connected directly, to the bow arm? by a pin and slot connection 7.

, By this arrangement when the joint 5 is broken downwardly in folding, the pull of the top covering upon the bow arm 7 and through the pin and slot connection upon theextension 6 serves to balance the front extension and enable it to be moved back from one side into the position shown in dotted lines, where it 'willbe self-supporting and enable the operator to properly arrange the folds of the covering material prepara-' tory to swinging the top back into its com o pletely folded position.

The top covering between the standard and outrigger bow may be supported by a bow arm, as shown at 8, and if it be desired to have this bow armpositively guided, I may use a pair of links, such as shown in Fig. 2 of the companion application filed of even date herewith.

intermediate portion of the bow arm 7* to the upper end of the standard, as indicated at w and connect its lower end to the link 6 by a pin and slot connection 3 or its equivalent. v

In this form I prefer-to pivot the front In the form shown in Fig. 2 I pivot the auxiliary bow arm 8" to the outrigger bow arm 5 and hold it positively in position by a distance piece or linlr 9 having one end iv otally connected to the front auxiliary ow arm and its rear end connected to a link 10, which link 10 connects the pivot pin at m with the outrigger how am 5 at a point in advance of the lock joint 5.

It is obvious that if a five bow top is desired it is only necessary to support an extra bow directly upon the standard or continue the standard upward to form the bow arm, as disclosed in Fig. of the companion application filed of even date herewith.

What I claim is:

1. in a folding top, a main standard, an outrigger bow arm, a link pivotally connected respectively to said outrigger bow arm and to said standard a cover support ing how arm pivoted to said. standard at a different height from the point of pivotal connection of the link to the standard and normally inclining rearwardly with relation to said standard, said link and said bow arm having a sliding connection between the end nseopee standard and inclining upwardly, a cover supporting bow arm pivoted to said standard below the link pivot, and a sliding connection between said how arm and the extended part of the link.

in testimony whereof I nllix my signature.

MAX BUCH. 

